There are a lot of excuses for not becoming a diver. Number one on list is the time required to get certified. The second runner-up is that diving is expensive. These are common objections that I often run into. Cost seems to be the major sticking point, or is it?
Diving is not cheap, but most adventure pursuits are not. In many places diving has taken on a status more in-line with "yachting" or "sky diving" than a something just about anyone participate in.
Is this perception keeping potential divers away? Is diving REALLY that expensive? Like many things, it depends. There is the cost of getting certified, acquiring gear, dive charters and travel to choice dive locations. All of these can all be had without breaking the bank.
Gear can be rented or picked up used from dive centers. Dive charters and expensive travel are not required. On the other hand, if you want to go first class you can spend some real money. When looked at objectively, becoming a diver is no more expensive than becoming a good golfer or skier.
Let’s look at Golf. Where I live in the mid-Atlantic region, 18 holes will run you around $120. If you want to do it well you should take lessons, get your own set of clubs and appropriate course attire. All this adds up. I can easily spend as much on a good golf set, lessons and attire as I would on a good diving set up. For a day out with a dive charter, you may spend as little as $60 or as much as $170 (or more...). That includes two tanks and in many cases the equipment.
If you own your equipment and have some good dive buddies, the equation changes. I have spent as little as $20 for a day of diving, which was the cost to fill my tanks. Perhaps Golf is a bad example. Let’s look at a more action oriented sport; Skiing. A day of skiing in Pennsylvania will cost about $120 to include ski rental. Lessons are additional, but many of the resorts have rental/lesson deals for first time skiers. You should also have your own winter appropriate attire, goggles, gloves etc. If you really get into it you will spend $1000 or more to get set up right.
The BLUF is this. SCUBA Diving is no more expensive than many other popular leisure time pursuits. So if the expense is not the real objection most people have, what is? Diving is time intensive. You are either all in or you are out when it comes to getting certified. You have to study. There is a degree of risk that many are not comfortable with. Divers, no matter how safe they are, take risks. We account for each other. You cannot say that about most recreational pursuits. Diving requires a level of commitment and accountability that most activities do not and that is the true cost of becoming a diver.
Ty- TDGG
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